Campaigners vow to fight on as Brent Council wins library cuts case
Campaigners fighting proposed cuts to Brent Council’s library services have vowed to appeal after a High Court judge dismissed their judicial review challenge.
Brent Libraries SOS had argued that the authority’s decision to shut six out of 12 libraries would hit the poor, children, older people, the disabled and ethnic minorities harder than others.
Commenting on Mr Justice Ouseley’s ruling, Brent’s Leader Cllr Ann John said: “We are pleased that the judge, having carefully considered all the complaints, has found in the council’s favour on each and every one. It means we can push ahead with our exciting plans to improve Brent’s library service and offer a 21st Century service for the benefit of all our residents.”
But Margaret Bailey, a spokeswoman for Brent Libraries SOS, said the group was determined to appeal. “We believe that there are important points of principle at stake which an appeal court will decide differently,” she said. “Our campaign will redouble its efforts to expose the senselessness of Brent Council's decision to close half of its libraries.”
She added: "We strongly believe and continue to believe that Brent’s decision is wrong, and that the manner in which Brent arrived at that decision was unreasonable and unfair.”
Bailey claimed that Brent had spent more than £70,000 on the legal case, arguing that it should not spend more money pursuing the library closure policy.
The campaigners’ solicitor, John Halford of Bindmans, said the judgment had “very troubling implications” for library closure decisions nationally.
“It cannot be right to decimate the library service of an inner London borough whose children are desperate to read and study but whose parents cannot afford books nor the transport costs of regular access to distant libraries,” he said.
“Nor is Brent right to say the threatened libraries are unnecessary to meet local needs. The passion and commitment of the community campaign to keep them open shows that is nonsense."
